Hypersonix awarded first major contract

Hypersonix Launch Systems has been selected from a field of 63 respondents by the United States’ Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) to provide aircraft for hypersonic tests, the company’s first major contract. The DIU selected Hypersonix for the “Hypersonic and High-Cadence Airborne Testing Capabilities” (HyCAT1) program, which seeks to test in a “representative environment”, maintaining speeds…

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‘Critical’ manufacturing infrastructure has never been more important – or more at risk from cyber attack

Despite being the top target for attack, manufacturing has not been included by government as part of the discussion around securing vital infrastructure. Brian Grant discusses the current risks, and how to increase protection levels within increasingly digitalised companies. Manufacturing is now the number one target for ransomware attacks worldwide, according to the 2022 IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence…

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Celebrating Australian sovereign capability – the Covid woes and revival of Electro Optic Systems

Today in our Celebrating Australian sovereign capability editorial series we look defence, communications and space manufacturer Electro Optic Systems, one of a handful along with shipbuilder Austal of genuine Australian defence prime contractors. Here Peter Roberts interviews Matthew Jones, Executive Vice President of EOS Defence Systems. Australia has a lot riding on the success of…

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Celebrating Australian sovereign capability – Nova Systems’ Jim McDowell puts the case for the defence

Our editorial series – Celebrating Australian sovereign capability – has focused on developing the wider manufacturing sector. However, in no sector is the need more important, nor more urgent, than in national defence and security argues Jim McDowell in this contribution from our sponsor. Is Australia ready for war? The question may be regarded by…

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Australia hasn’t figured out low-level nuclear waste storage yet – let alone high-level waste from submarines

By Ian Lowe, Griffith University Within ten years, Australia could be in possession of three American-made Virginia-class nuclear submarines under the AUKUS agreement with the United States and United Kingdom. The following decade, we plan to build five next-generation nuclear submarines. To date, criticism of the deal has largely focused on whether our unstable geopolitical…

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Enabling design for environmental good reports examine what’s needed in circular economy shift

A series of reports released on Thursday outline a roadmap for Australia’s circular economy transition, which is still in its early stages, and highlight the importance of design in this. Enabling Design for Environmental Good was commissioned by the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.  RMIT project lead and Associate Professor…

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